Building structures



June 19, 1962 c. 1... TIMMONS 3, 7

BUILDING STRUCTURES Filed July 25, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 19, 1962c. L. TIMMONS 3,039, 7

BUILDING STRUCTURES Filed July 23, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 19, 1962c. L. TIMMONS 3,039,478

BUILDING STRUCTURES Filed July 25, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IA"; w 37 42 g;

June 19, 1962 c. L. TIMMONS BUILDING STRUCTURES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledJuly 23, 1959 June 19, 1962 c. TlMMONS 3,039,478

BUILDING STRUCTURES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 25, 1959 /m en/br:[bar/e5 Z. imam/2s States Unite This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in building structures, and in particular the inventionconcerns itself with a structure of this type which may be quickly andeasily assembled and disassembled without the use of any tools orspecial skill and which, in its disassembled form, may be convenientlyand compactly transported from one location to another.

As such, the building structure in accordance with the invention lendsitself to a very wide variety of different uses, such as for example, asa survival shelter for military personnel, as a portable home forcampers, as a permanent igloo type home for persons in northern lands,as a blind for game hunters, as a greenhouse for plants, or as a toyhouse for children, to mention but a few.

The principal object of the invention, therefore, is to provide areadily discerptible and conveniently portable building structure whichis well adapted for the variety of different purposes for which it maybe used, which is durable, rigid when erected, and which may beconveniently and economically manufactured so that it may be availableat low cost.

With the above more important objects and features in view and suchother objects and features as may become apparent as this specificationproceeds, the invention will be understood from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, whereinlike characters of reference are used to designate like parts, andwherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing the framework of the buildingstructure in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of one of the ribs;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the annular top member;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of one of the spacer sleeves;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail showing the connection of thesplit ends of the top member;

FIGURE 6 is -a fragmentary top plan view of the top member with spacersleeves and T-couplings connecting the ribs thereto;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional detail, taken substantially in theplane of the line 7'-7 in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, showingthe connecting element and spacer sleeve between adjacent ribs;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the tied ends of theconnecting element;

FIGURE 10 is an elevational view of a modified form of the ribs;

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view showing the complete building structurein use as an igloo or as a toy house for children;

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view showing the building in use as a blindfor game hunters;

FIGURE 13 is a perspective View, partially broken away, showing thebuilding in use as a greenhouse;

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary perspective view of the framework of thegreenhouse shown in FIGURE 13 and illustrating the arrangement of theclosure at the top of the building;

FIGURE 15 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, showingthe supporting means for the closure;

FIGURE 16 is a top plan view of a modified form of atent the annular topmember or ring with the upper ends of the ribs connected thereto;

FIGURE 17 is a fragmentary sectional detail on an enlarged scale, takensubstantially in the plane of the line 1717 in FIGURE 16;

FIGURE 18 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the sleeve orcoupling components of the invention in a modified form;

FIGURE 19 is a fragmentary perspective view of an end portion of one ofthe ribs adapted for coaction with the component shown in FIGURE 19;

FIGURE 20 is a cross-sectional detail of one of the sleeve or couplingcomponents of FIGURE 18 and rib of FIGURE 19 assembled; and

FIGURE 21 is a cross-sectional detail, similar to that shown in FIGURE20 but illustrating a modified form of the connecting means.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, particularly toFIGURES 1-9 inclusive, the building structure in accordance with theinvention embodies a substantially hemi-spherical framework designatedgenerally by the reference numeral 20, which comprises an annular topmember or ring 21 and a plurality of curved ribs 22 which extendradially outwardly and downwardly from circumferentially spaced pointson the ring 21, as shown. The ring 21 is split as illustrated in FIGURE5 and the adjacent ends thereof are separably connected together by acurved, tubular sleeve 23 in which one end portion of the ring may besecured by welding, or the like, while the other end portion of the ringis removably secured therein by a thumb screw 24. Both end portions ofthe ring may be removably secured in the sleeve by thumb screws, if sopreferred.

The upper ends of the ribs 22 are removably secured by thumb screws 25in T-couplings 26 which are slidably positioned on the ring 21 but maybe secured in predetermined, circumferentially spaced points thereon bythumb screws 27. While the longitudinal bores of the couplings 26 arestraight, they are sufficiently large to slidably fit the curvature ofthe ring, whereby to facilitate placing of the couplings on and theirremoval from the ring, as will be understood.

The lower end portions 22a of the ribs 22 are straight and are adaptedto be inserted into the ground or, as shown in FIGURE 1, into an annularbase 28 made of earth or hard snow on the ground, the base 28facilitating erection of a building structure of a greater height thanthat obtained when the lower ends of the ribs are inserted directly intothe ground.

The intermediate portions of the ribs 22 are suitably formed to providesets of eyes 29, 30, and a flexible connecting element 31 such as a ropeor a cable extends circumferentially of the framework and is passedthrough the eyes 29, as shown. Moreover, tubular spacers 32 of suitablematerial such as rubber, neoprene, or metal, are provided on the element31 between the adjacent ribs 22 and have their ends in abutment with theeyes 29, whereby to retain the ribs in circumferentially spaced apartrelation. As is best shown in FIGURE 9, the ends of the element 31 arebrought out through lateral openings 33 formed in two adjacent spacers32 at opposite sides of one of the ribs 22 and such ends are suitablytied or otherwise fastened together, as indicated at 34.

Similarly, the upper ends of the ribs 22 are circumferentially spacedapart on the ring 21 by curved, tubular sleeves 23a which are slidablypositioned on the ring between the adjacent ribs and abut theT-couplings 26, thus assisting in locating the couplings in theirproper, circumferentially spaced position on the ring, preparatory tosecuring by the thumb screws 27. The aforementioned sleeve 23 whichconnects the ends of the sleeve 2110- 3 gether takes place of one of thespacer sleeves 23a in the assembly.

If desired for greater ease of portability, each of the ribs 22 mayconsist of a plurality of sections as indicated at 22b and 22c in FIGURE10, separably connected together by a tubular sleeve 35 equipped with athumb screw 36, similar to the sleeve 23 and thumb screw 24 alreadydescribed in connection with the ring 21.

The entire erected framework supports and is enclosed by a substantiallyhemi-spherical cover 37 of flexible and foldable sheet material which issimply positioned over the framework and is held in place thereon bysuitable clasps, or the like, 38 as indicated in FIGURE 11. These claspssecure the cover to the ribs at points below the aforementioned eyes andthereby prevent the cover from sliding or shifting upwardly on theframework.

Although the cover 37 may be made from any suitable material, it ispreferably made of Mylar which is the registered trade-mark of E. I. duPont de Nemours and Co., Inc. for a polyester film, specifically,polyethylene terephthalate resin, having a substantial physicalstrength, resistance to moisture and good heat insulating properties. Inits transparent form, it is well suited for use as the cover for theframework when the building struc ture is in the nature of a greenhouseas illustrated in FIGURE 13, while in its metalized form it may be usedfor the cover of a survival shelter or an igloo home where substantialprotection against the weather is required.

Of course, the building structure may be of any desired size and in theinstance of its use as an igloo type building as shown in FIGURE 11, anappropriate entrance 39 may be provided for the building, consisting ofa plurality of inverted U-shaped ribs (not shown) which are insertedinto the ground and covered with the same material as the cover 37, aswill be readily apparent. FIGURE 12 illustrates the structure as beingused as a blind for game hunting, in which event the cover 37 may bepainted or otherwise provided with suitable camouflage 40 and providedwith suitable sight openings or windows 41 whereby the hunter inside thebuilding may observe approaching game. In such event, the top portion ofthe cover 37 is formed with a circular opening 42 in register with thering 21 so that the hunter may assume a standing position with the upperpart of his body projecting through the opening 42 as shown, tofacilitate shooting. The igloo type structure shown in FIGURE 11 may ormay not have the top opening 42, as desired.

The structure of the greenhouse type shown in FIG- URFS 13-15 ispreferably formed with the top opening 42 to facilitate ventilation, butmeans are provided for closing such an opening in order to control theamount of ventilation present. Such means comprise a dome-shaped closure43, preferably formed from spun aluminum, or the like, which is suitablysecured to the upper end of a shaft 44, vertically slidable in anupright, tubular standard 45 which is disposed centrally in theframework 20. The upper end of the standard 45 is provided with a set ofradial braces 46 secured to the ring 21 in any suitable manner, such asby T-couplings similar to the aforementioned couplings 26, while thelower end of the standard may be anchored in the ground, as shown inFIGURE 15. I

The shaft 44 is provided at its lower end with a laterally angulatedportion constituting a handle 47 which projects outwardly through avertical slot 48 formed in the standard and is receivable selectively ina plurality of lateral bays 49 which are provided at one side of theslot 48. In this manner, the shaft 44 may be raised and lowered asdesired, and retained in a pre-selected position by placing the handle47 in the appropriate of the bays 49 so as to retain the closure 43either in a position wherein it closes the opening 42 or in a positionwherein it is raised from the opening so as to open the same to anydesired extent.

Flowers, plants, or the like, may be positioned on suitable benches 50provided in the structure when the same is used as a greenhouse asillustrated in FIGURE 13, and if in such instances the structure is of asubstantial size so that the ribs 22 are of a considerable length,several vertically spaced connecting elements 31 with the sleeves 32thereon may be provided between the ribs for proper rigidity.

Referring now to the accompanying FIGURES 16 and 17, the same illustratea somewhat modified embodiment of the annular top member or ringdesignated as 51 which may be used in substitution for theaforementioned ring assembly 21, 23a and 26. As such, the ring 51 issolid and formed integrally with a plurality of downwardly and laterallydirected projections 52 having bores 53 therein to removably receive theupper ends of the ribs 22 which are fastened therein by the thumb screws25. This integral arrangement of the top ring eliminates the need forassembly of individual components (21, 23a, 26) and, by virtue of itsintegrity, prevents the possibility of such individual componentsbecoming lost or otherwise misplaced.

As already noted, the invention is well adapted for use as a survival oran emergency hut, and in such an environment it may be necessary toassemble the same during darkness, when proper orientation of thevarious components may be difficult or even impossible. Accordingly,means shown in FIGURES 18-21 are provided to facilitate assembly of thestructure in a convenient manner which safeguards against thepossibility of error in orienting the various parts, particularly fromthe standpoint of connecting the upper ends of the ribs 22 to the topring 21 (or 51, as the case may be), and similarly connecting the ribsections 22]; and 22c together at the sleeves 35. As shown in FIGURES1820, such means involve the provision of irregular, polygonalextremities 54 at the connecting ends of the ribs or rib sections, whichare receivable in complemental sockets 55 formed in the sleeves 35and/or in the coupling members 26 or 52. The configuration of theextremities and sockets is such that the ribs may be inserted into thesockets only in one particular way, so that proper orientation of theribs relativeto the sockets is obtained.

FIGURE 21 illustrates a slightly modified arrangement wherein the ribextremities 54a and the sockets 55a are provided merely with a flat side56 to attain the same result in a simpler manner.

While in the foregoing there have been described and shown the preferredembodiments of the invention, various modifications may become apparentto those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Accordingly,it is not desired to limit the invention to this disclosure and variousmodifications may be resorted to, such as may lie within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a building structure frame of a portable and readily discerptiblecharacter, the combination of a substantially hemi-spherical frameworkincluding an annular top member, a set of curved ribs extending radiallyoutwardly and downwardly from circumferentially spaced points on saidtop member, means separably connecting the upper ends of the ribs to thetop member, the lower ends of the ribs being adapted to be anchored to asupporting surface, the intermediate portions of said ribs beingprovided with eyes, a flexible connecting element extendingcircumferentially of said framework and passing through said eyes, andspacer sleeves provided on said connecting element between adjacent ribsand abutting said eyes, two of said sleeves at opposite sides of one ofsaid ribs being provided with lateral apertures, said flexible elementhaving free end portions extending outwardly through said apertures andseparately tied to- References Cited in the file of this patent getherat the outside of said two sleeves.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 together with UNITED STATESPATENTS T-couplings provided at the upper ends of said ribs and 379,274Hamilton Mar. 13, 1888 separably connecting the same to said annular topmem- 5 833,411 Orrnsby Oct. 16, 1906 her, and spacer sleeves provided onsaid top member 912,184 Scott Feb. 9, 1909 between said ribs and inabutment with said couplings. 2,044,659 Adams June 16, 1936 3. Thestructure as defined in claim 2 wherein said 2,598,940 Robie June 3,1952 annular top member is split and has adjacent ends there- 2,690,185Pomykala Sept. 28, 1954 of separably connected together. 10 2,808,913Frieder et a1. Oct. 8, 1957

